By Laxmi Prasad Pattanayak
Mukteswar Festivals to continue till January 16, opened on 14th with Chorus by Manmath Mishra and troupe followed by the first Oriya receiver of the prestigious Bishmilla Khan Award , Ms. Leena Mohanty presenting her mesmerizing Odissi Solo Dance to the tune of music composed by Guru Dhiraj Kumar Mohapatra.
Guru Sachidananda Das gave the accompaniment in Mardal, Guru Abhiram Nanda in flute, Guru Swapneswar Chakroverty in Sitar, Guru Agnimitra Behera in Violin. Guru Dhiraj Kumar’s perfect Odissi vocal made the inaugural event memorable.
The second item – Odissi Duet – was presented by Asok Ghosal and Bandita Ghosal. Guru Himansu Shekhar Swain gave the Vocal support, accompanied by Guru Rama Chandra Behera (Mardal), Guru Priti Ranjan Swain (Flute) and Guru Amit Kumar Das (Violin).
The third presentation was Odissi in Group bu the Adruta Dance Group of Bhubasneswar.
Mukteswar Temple Premises, house to the annual festival, was full of connoisseurs inland and foreign.
Minister of Culture & Tourism Ashok Panda and Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Culture Dr. Arababinda Padhi and eminent film artist Nandita Das profusely praised the performers.